Device for effecting the threading of needles and the like



Aug. 8, 1950 M. J. COSTELLO 7 DEVICE FOR EFFECTING THE THREADING o1? NEEDLES AND THE LIKE Filed July 18, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.4a

1mm: Just? Casi-n40 m w gf (gents- Aug. 8, 1950 M. J. COSTELLO 7 DEVICE FOR EFFECTING THE THREADING OF NEEDLES AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 18, 1947 wvsivroQ Patented Aug. 8, 1956 DEVICE FOR EFFECTING THE THREADING OF NEEDLES AND THE LIKE Michael Joseph Costello, Surbiton, England, as-

signor of one-half to Parker Alderman, West Bexington, near Dorchester, England Application July 18, 1947, Serial No. 761,958 In Great Britain January 27, 1947 This invention relates to devices adapted to effect the threading of needles or the like, and it has for its chief object to provide such a device which, while being eflicient in operation, is nevertheless simple in construction and reasonably cheap to manufacture.

In accordance with its broadest aspect, the invention resides in the provision of a device wherein the thread or the like to be threaded, is introduced thereinto in such a manner as to extend transversely with respect to a guide channel or the like which is adapted to receive a needle to be threaded, and the motion of the needle as it is inserted into or withdrawn from the device, is employed to effect the operation of means whereby a portion of the thread is caused to pass through the needle eye and to form a loop which i is thereafter held in such a manner that, as the needle is completely withdrawn from the device, one end of said thread will be drawn through the eye to complete the threading operation.

In further accordance with the invention, the thread or the like to be threaded is introduced into the device in such a manner as to extend transversely with respect to a guide channel or the like, which is adapted to receive a needle to be threaded, and the motion of the needle, as it is inserted into and withdrawn from the device, is employed to cause the projection and retraction through the eye thereof of an element which is adapted, during a part of its movement, to engage the thread and to carry a portion thereof through said eye to form a loop, which is thereafter held in such a manner that, as the needle is completely withdrawn from the device, one end of said thread will be drawn through the eye to complete the threading operation.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention, the device includes a casing or body having a guide channel'therein adapted to receive and to position a needle to be threaded, a slot or passage extending transversely with respect to the channel and into or through which a length of thread or the like to be threaded may be introduced, and means within said casing or body operative on insertion and withdrawal of a needle into and fromthe device to cause the projection and retraction through the needle eye of an element which is" adapted, during a part of its motion, to engage the thread and to carry a portion'thereof through said eye to form a loop, which is thereafter held in such a manner that, as theneedle is completely withdrawn from the device, one end of the said thread will be drawn 8 Claims. (Cl. 22399) through the needle eye to complete the threading operation.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show the embodiments and in which:

' Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodi ment of the needle threading device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows the device in side elevation one portion or half being removed for the purposes of illustration;

Figure 4 shows in perspective the portion or half complementary to that shown in Figure 3;

Figure 4a is a fragmentary section on the line 4-4 of Figure 4:

Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to that shown in Figure 3 but illustrating the operation of the device;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a detail;

Figure 8 is a detail view showing a modification Figures 9-13 show a modified form of needle threading device according to the invention, Figures 9, 11, 12 and 13 being side elevational views wherein one portion of the casing or cover is removed for the purpose of better illustration of the several stages in the operation of the device, while Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a detail corresponding to that shown in Fig. 7.

Referring now to Figs. 1-7 of the drawings, it will be seen that the device comprises a casing or body made up of two complementary portions I0 and H, which latter are adapted to be secured" together by means of screws or the like indicatedat [2. The portions In and H are each formed with a slot l3, the arrangement being such that when said portions are secured together, the two slots will be aligned and will provide a single slot or passage which extends transversely of the casing or body and which will allow of the introduc- ,tion of a length of cotton, thread or the like ithereinto; The portions l0 and H are also relatively so formed as to provide a longitudinally extending slot [4 therebetween, said. latter slot being adapted to communicate with the transverse slot l3 and to extend therefrom to that end of the casing or body into which needles to be threaded are inserted. The inner face of the portion I0 is also formed with a longitudinally extending channel [5 with which the slot I4 is also adapted to communicate, said channel be-' ing so dimensioned as to accommodate a needle and to form a guide channel into which a needle to be threaded may be inserted. As indicated in the drawings, the channel 15 is preferably so formed that when the device is held so that the walls of the slot M are vertical, the top wall lfia. of said channel will be horizontal while the other wall will be inclined downwardly at an angle relatively thereto. Preferably also the portions l and l l are suitably recessed or cut away as indicated at I6 to form guide surfaces and to facilitate insertion of the needle into the'channel. 15.

The internal face of the portion IE! is also formed with a recess i? with which the channel I is adapted to communicate, saidrecess being adapted to accommodate a member l'B-which is mounted in any convenient manner for pivotal movement about a point designated 19. The member iii, a slightly modified form of which is shown in Figure '7, is formed with a projecting portion 28 so dimensioned as to project into the path'of any needle inserted-throughthe channel l5, said projecting portion being formed with a V--shaped recess 2.1; the purpose of' which will-be hereinafter made apparent; The memberv I8. is

alsoadaptedto'carry ahook element 22 which is. sod-imensioned as to be adapted to be projected through the eye of any needle which may be introduced into the channel I5. The hook element 22- may conveniently bemade of fine wire which, while possessing a degree of resilience, is-- nevertheless suificiently rigid the be proof against deformation when in use but, if desired'as indicatedin Figure 7; saidelement may be made of other suitable material being mounted in." a slot or the like in the member l8: and secured in position by one or more screws, such as are indicated at 221,, in such a manner as to aneedle inserted into the channel [5" and. in

conjunction with: said channel and a, spring 2?:

in the portion il to ensure correct positioning- The spring 24- of th'e'needlewithin the device; isformed with a flattened portion 2 in: adapted to constitute a resilient platform and to co-operate with a needleto ensure correct positioning thereof. The spring 25', which is in the form of a-leaf -spring, may be mounted in the portion H in any convenientmanner, being so-disposed that on assembly of the two portions it and l I, it will lie-opposite the channel i5; As willbe apparent from Figure i, the interior face of the'portion H is also formed with a recess or the: like 25 adapted, when said portion is applied to the: portion- Hi,v to be-aligned with the recess i! in the latter, and-together therewith, to form a space such as will accommodate the working parts of:

the: device;

In order to operate the device, the head of a needleto be threaded is inserted into the channel IL (in initial insertion of the needle into thev channel I5; it will be pressed by the spring 25- towards the narrowest part or apex of said channel; As all needles are slightly flattened at the head in the area of the eye, the needle will be caused automatically to assume a position: such, that on further insertion, the flattened portion thereofwill be engaged: by the fiat portion 240, of

the spring 24andwill be pressedagainst the Wall- [5a of the channel I5. The action of the springs 24 and 25, in conjunction with the formation of the channel, causes the needle to be turned into such a position that, upon complete insertion, the eye will lie in a plane such that the hook element 22 may be projectedtherethroug-h. Due to theparticular construction of thech'annel l5 and and to the pressure of the springs 24 and 25, it is immaterial how the needle is inserted into the device, since on being pushed into the channel 15; it will be automatically guided into the correct position to allow of the subsequent projection of the hookelement 22 through the eye thereof. It will be apparent from Figure 5 that, asthe needle ispushed into the device past the spring 24, it will contact with the projecting portion 2'0 of the member l8 and will cause the latter to be moved about its pivot l9 against the action of the spring 23. At a predetermined point in the movement of the member E8, the hook elementwill be projected into: the eye of the needle; and when the latteris fully in serted as shownin; Figure? saidlelement will be projected completely through said eye; Due to the V-shaped' recess 2i in: the projecting; portion 26, the head of the needle will be: caused: auto- Figure 5,.when: the cotton or thread which is designated by. 2'], is inposition in the slot- [3; itwill-extend across the needle and as: the latter is withdrawn from-the device, the member: it will be moved in the opposite direction'about its pivottowards its initialpositionillustrated in Figure 3,- due to the co-operation between the hook element Hand-theneedle eye, andalso to the action of the spring; 23 :thereby causing said'hook' element to beprogressively withdrawn from the needleeyet As thehookelement 22 is withdrawn, itwill engage. the cotton or thread 2?, and will .draw the same through the needle eyeas indicated inFigure 6,, the free end of the cotton or thread beingdrawnthrough said eye to'complete the threading operation as the needle isfully withdrawn fromv the device.

Inthe event of the thread-being attachedto a garmentor the like, when-the needle threading.- operation is completed and the needle is withdrawn fromthe device, the latter maybe disengaged from the thread by virtue of the provision of 'the slot l'4,.which allows said device tobepulled away or withdrawn from-said cotton orthread;

If the hooli element T2 is formed-of wire or other material possessing a degree of resilience,

the device above described and illustrated may be employed toth'read needles of differing types and sizes, but in certain cases it maybe desirable so to mount said hook elementtli'at it is capable of slight angular adjustment" with respect to the member liito ensure 'that' it may be projected" through the eye of any needle 'intro'duced into the device, despitevariations in the actual position of said eye with respect to the head of the needle:

For example, inthe embodiment shown in Figure- 7,. the: holes' in the hook element. through which the position of said element.

Preferably two stops [Bit and. lfl'li are: provided- :within the recess:- l'l for the purpose ofvlimiting the extent of the pivotal movement of the member l8. The stop |8a is adapted to limit the extent of movement of the member l8 under the action of a needle inserted into the device, thereby preventing any overriding of the hook element, the subjection of said element to strain when projected through the needle eye, and also any excessive compression of the spring 23 such as would result in weakening of the same. The stop l8b is adapted, on return of the member l8 to its initial position, to keep the hook element in the closed position when it is made of mate-' rial other than wire, and is so mounted that slight movement thereof is allowed for in the manner indicated above. The steps may be formed of metal or other suitable material, and mounted within the recess H, or they may be formed integrally with the casing portion l9.

Instead of forming the guide channel 15 in the portion and providing the springs 24 and 25 it may be feasible to adopt a construction such as that shown in Figure 8. Referring now to that figure, it will be seen that the portion H3 is formed with an enlarged slot or cut away portion 39 of substantially rectangular section in which a spring pressed platform 3|, is disposed. The platform 3! which as shown in the figure, is urged upwardly by a spring 32 and is formed with a chamfered or bevelled surface 33 adapted, in conjunction with the upper wall of the slot 30, to form a channel of substantially the same form in cross section as the channel E5 in the preceding figures. The chamfered or bevelled surface 33 is merged at its inner end. into a fiat platform 34, which is adapted to serve the same purpose as the flattened portion 24a of the spring 24. It will be appreciated that, as the needle is inserted into the channel formed by the surface 33 and the upper wall of the slot 38, it will be turned into a position such that, on further insertion, the flattened portion of the needle will be pressed by the platform 34 fiat against said upper Wall, thereby ensuring that the eye of the needle will be correctly positioned to receive the hook element.

, In the embodiment above described, the introduction of the thread into the device is effected after complete insertion of the needle, and said thread is drawn through the needle eye by means of the hook element 22 on retraction of said needle. In Figures 9-43, a slightly modified construction is shown wherein the thread is pushed through the needleeye to form-a loop during insertion of the needle into the device, the completion of the threading operation being effected on subsequent withdrawal of said needle. The device illustrated in Figures 9-13 is similar in most respects to that above described with reference to Figures 1-7, and comprises, a casing or body made up of two complementary. portions, which are adapted to be secured together by means of screws or the like. In Figures 9, 11, 12 and 13, only one portion 35 corresponding to the portion IQ is shown, such portion including a slot 36 corresponding to the slot i3 and adapted to allow for the introduction of thread into the device, and a channel 3? corresponding to the channel !5, said channel 37 constituting a guide channel into which a needle to be threaded may be inserted. The formation of the channel 3"! is similar to that shown in Figures 1-7, so that correct positioning of the needle may be assured. The inner face of the portion 35, as the caseof the portion iii, is formed with an internal recess 38 adapted to accommodate a member 39 which is mounted in any convenient manner for pivotal movement about a point Ml. The member 39, as is the case with the member l8 in the preceding embodiment, is formed with a projecting portion 4| so dimensioned as to project into the path of 5 any needle inserted into the channel 31, such projecting portion being formed with a V-shaped recess 42, the purpose of which is similar to that of the recess 2| in the member [8. The

member 39 is adapted to carry a forked bar or 1 prong 43, which may be mounted in position therein in any convenient manner, so that the forked or operative end of said bar or prong will project into the recess 42, and will be aligned with'a further slot or recess 44 formed in the rear face of the projecting portion ll of the member 39. The construction and arrangement of the various parts is such that, when the member 3'9 is in its inoperative position as shown in Figure 9, the slot 4 1 will be aligned or in register with the slot 35. As is the case with the member I8, the member 39 is normally urged forwardly into the position shown in Figure 9 by means of a spring 45, corresponding to the spring 23, which may be of any convenient form other than that shown, and may be anchored in any suitable manner. Preferably, stops 3% and 39b are incorporated in the device to co-operate with the member 39, such stops serving the same purpose as the stops E80, and H32) in the embodiment above referred to. Also mounted within the recess 38, is a spring 46 similar to, and serving the same purpose as, the spring 24 of the preceding embodiment, while in addition, a spring fork or the like 4! is disposed adjacent the path of movement of any needle inserted into the device, the purpose of said fork or the like being hereinafter made apparent. The other half of the casing or body is identical with that shown in the preceding embcdiment, having a slot corresponding to the slot :3, an internal recess corresponding to the recess 26, and a spring corresponding to the spring 25.

The operation of the embodiment shown in Figures 9-13 is as follows: A portion of the thread to be threaded is first introduced into the slot 36 and, as indicated above, the construction and arrangement of the various parts is such that said thread, which is designated at 48, will enter the slot 44 in the projecting portion ll of the member 39 and will be disposed transversely with respect to the forked bar or prong 43. When the thread 38 is in position, the needle to be threaded is introduced into the channel 3? and, owing to the special formation of such channel and the action of the spring t6 and'the spring in the other half of easing or body (not shown), said needle will be turned automatically into such a position that, on continued insertion, the forked bar or prong 43 will be projected through the needle eye. As in 0 the preceding embodiment, the head of the needle will contact the projecting portion M of the member 39 and will cause the latter to be moved about its pivot against the action of the spring 45. At a predetermined point in the movement of the ,65 member 39, the forked bar or prong 43 will be projected through the eye ofethe needle, carrying with it a portionof the thread. As in the preceding embodiment, due to the V-shaped recess 42 in the projecting portion M, the head of the 70 needle will be caused automatically to assume a central position so that the eye will always be correctly aligned with the bar or prong as. When I the needle is fully inserted, as shown in Figure 11, the construction and arrangement of the various 7:) parts is such that the bar or prong willbe projected throughthe needle eye a distance such that sufiicient thread will be pushed through said eye to form a loop. As the needle is retracted from the fully inserted position, the member 39 "will commence its return movement to its initial position under the action of the spring 45, and the forked bar or prong 43 will be retractedfrom the needle eye, as illustrated in Figure 12 leaving a loop of thread projected through said eye. Upon continued retraction of the needle, the bar or prong '43 will be completely withdrawn'from the needle eye and the loop of thread remaining will he engaged by the spring fork or the like 41, as shown in Figure 13. The fork l-l serves to hold the thread so that upon further or complete withdrawal of the needle from the device, one end of said thread will be drawn through the needle eye and'the threading operation will thereby be completed.

In the event of the thread being attached to a garment or the like when the needle threading operation is completed and the needle is withdrawn from the device, the latter may be disengaged from the thread by virtue of the provision of a slot equivalent to the slot M, which allows said thread to be pulled away or withdrawn from said device.

If the bar or prong is formed of material possessing a degree of resilience, the device may be employed to thread needles of different types and sizesbut in certain cases, i-t'may be desirable so to mount said bar or pron-g that it is capable of slight angular movement with respect to the member 39 to ensure that it may project through the eye of any needle introduced into the device, --despi-te variations in the actual position of said eye with respect to the head of the needle. For-example, the bar or prong may be secured in position similarly to the hook element shown in Figure '7, the holes therein, through which the securing screws are adapted to pass, being slightly enlarged to allow for slight variations in the posi= tion of said element.

As with the preceding embodiment, it may be desirable in certain cases to adopt a construction such as that shown in Figure 3, and thereby to dispense with the special formation of the guide channel 31, and with the spring 46, and'the spring in the other half of the casing or body.

The portions constituting the components of the casing or body of either of the foregoing embodiments "of the device may be formed of any convenient'material such 'as'wood, metal or synthetic resin or the like and they may be or any convenient shape or configuration other than that illustrated.

Preferably, means are associated with said casing or body to allow of attachment of the device to a convenient point on a garment of the person using the same. For example, as illustrated in Figure 1, a ring 28, to which a cord .or the like having a safety pin or other convenient fastening device associated therewith may be attached, maybe inserted through that end of the casing or body from the operative end of the device, or a tab or the like having a button-hole or other suitable device may conveniently be employed, Furthermore, the device may in certain cases be mounted on and/or form part of an article equipment for use in a :ta'iloi s or seamstresss workroom or the like. For example, it may be mounted on, or formed integrally with, a support or pillar projecting upwardly from a pin or other tray, which may also be equipped with 8 means for holding reels, =or spools of cotton or the like.

The device according to the invention may be constructed in varying sizes to accommodate any siaeior'type of needle from'averyfine needle, such aswis used with the fmest'cotton, to a-large needle adapted to be threaded with woolor other rlatively thick material, each size being capable of eirecting the threading of a selected rangeof sizes of needlea-and it has the advantage that, since it is notnecessary to insert the needle into the devioe'in any preselected position, it can be used by anyone whether inpossession of sight or not with a-certainty of operation.

I claim:

l. A n'eecll'e'threader comprising a body having an "internal chamber, a needle guide channel fin said body communicating "with said chamber, a slot in said body for the reception of thread also commmn' cating withsaid chamber and extending transversely with respect to said guide channel, means in said guide channel adapted to turn a needle inserted therein'to about its longitudinal axis and to bring the eye into a predetermined position, a member mounted for pivotal movement within said chamber, said member having a' portion projecting into the path of a needle inserted into theguide channel, a thread engaging member fixedly mounted on said pivoted member, the arrangement being such that on insertion of a needle into the device a pivotal movement will be imparted to said pivoted member the needle to cause said thread engaging member to be projected through the needle eye said thread engaging member being retracted on reverse movement of said pivoted member resultant upon withdrawal of the needle so that with a length of thread inserted into said transverse slot, said thread engaging member during a part of its motion will engage the thread and carry a portion thereof through the needle eye to form a loop which is thereafter held in such a manner that as'the needle is completely withdrawn from the device, one end of said thread will be drawn through the needle eye to complete the threading operation.

2. A needle threader as claimed in claim 1, further including a longitudinally extending's'lot in said body communicating with said chamber said first-mentioned slot for permitting release of the 'threader from the thread after the needle has been threaded and withdrawn from the threader when the thread is attached to a garment or the like.

3. A needle threader comprising a body having an internal chamber, a needle guide channel in saidbody communicating with said chamber, .a-slot in said body for the reception of thread also communicating with said chamber and extending transversely with respect to said guide channel, means in said guide channel adapted to a needle inserted 'therei-nto about its longitudinal axis and to bring the needle eye "into a predetermined position, a member mounted for pivotal movement within said chamber, said member having a portion adapted to project into the path of the needle inserted into the guide channel, a hook element rigidly secured on said member to pivot therewith, said hook element being so positioned that on insertion of a'needle into the guide 'ch ann'el and consequent pivotal movement or said member and hook element, the hook element will be projected automatically through the needle eye toengage' a thread subsequently introduced into the transverse slot.

4. A needle threader comprising a body having an internal chamber, a needle guide channel in said body communicating with said chamber, a slot in said body for reception of the thread also communicating with said chamber and extending transversely of said guide channel, means in said guide channel adapted to turn a needle inserted thereinto about its longitudinal axis and to bring the needle eye into a predetermined position, a member mounted for pivotal movement within said chamber, said member having a portion adapted to project into the path of the needle inserted into the guide ichannel, means associated with said member and adapted toreturn the same to its initial position after withdrawal of the needle, and a hook element mounted 011 said member to pivot therewith, said hook element being so positioned that on insertion of a needle into the guide channel and consequent pivotal movement of said member and hook element, the hook element will be projected automatically through the needle eye to engage a thread subsequently introduced into the transverse slot.

5. A needle threader comprising a body having an internal chamber, a needle guide channel in said body communicating with said chamber, a slot in said body for the reception of thread also communication with said chamber and extending transversely of said guide channel, a member mounted for pivotal-movement within the chamber, said member having a portion adapted to project into the path of a needle inserted into said guide channel, said portion having a vshaped guide recess therein adapted to position the needle head, a spring associated with said member adapted to return the same to its initial position after withdrawal of the needle, a hook element mounted in said member to pivot therewith, and means within said guide channel for positioning any needle inserted thereinto so that the eye thereof will be positioned to allow the hook element to be projected automatically theret'hrough on movement of the pivotal member and hook element under the action of said needle.

6. A needle threader as claimed in claim 5 in which the means in the guide channel comprise a resilient member adapted to co-operate with a needle inserted into said channel, the latter being so formed that due to the action of said resilient member correct positioning of the needle will be ensured.

'7. A needle threader as in claim 5 in which the means in the guide channel comprise a longitudinally extending platform, resilient means adapted to support said platform which is formed with a bevelled surface adapted in conjunction with a wall of the guide channel to effect correct positioning of the needle.

8. A needle threader as claimed in claim 5 in which the body comprises two complementary portions, and means for securing said portions together.

MICHAEL JOSEPH COSTELLO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 457,474 Darling et al. Aug. 11, 1891 620,540 Darling Feb. 28, 1899 1,159,902 Rostad Nov. 9, 1915 1,797,732 Ragewitz Mar. 24, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 234,572 Switzerland Feb. 1, 1945 

